Best Rewards Credit Card for the Frugal Shopper

Finding a good deal feels like conquering a mountain; you’ve climbed all this way and gotten something you really wanted.

Coupons and sales are some of the most common ways to save money, but credit cards also have a role to play. A good credit card can take the edge off your purchases so it doesn’t sting so much to swipe.

Read below to see our top picks for rewards credit cards for the frugal shopper.

Discover it® - Cashback Match™

The Discover it® - Cashback Match™ Card rotates its 5% bonus categories every quarter. You have to sign up for the bonus categories each quarter. Some of those picks have included Amazon.com, warehouse clubs, and department stores. You’ll also receive 1% cashback on any other categories. First time cardholders also receive free matching from Discover on any cashback they earn at the end of their first year.

Discover allows you to link rewards to your Amazon.com account so you can easily spend money at the world’s largest online retailer. Those who frequently shop online would benefit from having a seamless way to buy goods using rewards points.

Discover also offers the Discover Deals program, which offers specific cashback rewards for online stores, such as the Gap, Groupon and Apple. Users can also redeem their points for cash, which shows up as a statement credit. This is a great option for people who don’t want to feel pressured to spend their rewards on more shopping.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Frugal consumers love department stores, with their frequent sales and coupons. Shoppers can maximize those rewards by using a credit card like the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, a Credit Cards Explained advertiser. This cashback card offers 3% at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that), 2% for shopping at U.S. department stores and gas stations, and 1% for all other purchases. You’ll earn points no matter where you shop.

The card has a current promotion that gives a $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in our first three months. Plus, this card has no annual fee so it doesn’t matter if you only use it for infrequent shopping trips.

Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card

Truly frugal shoppers love buying used, whether it’s a hole-in-the-wall thrift store or online at Ebay.com. While there’s no card that tailors to those that buy second-hand, these consumers would benefit most from a card whose perks are universal.

New cardholders also get a $150 bonus when they spend $500 in their first three months, one of the easiest bonuses to earn. That’s on top of the cash back you’d earn on the $500 as well. There’s no annual fee with this card, so it works for both frequent and frugal shoppers.

Amazon.com Store Card

As one of the top retailers in the world, it’s no surprise that Amazon has a popular credit card. What is interesting is how beneficial it is to shoppers.

The Amazon.com Store Card offers 5% cash back on Prime purchases if you’re a member. That membership costs $99 a year, but is worth it for people who frequently shop online instead of in-store. Earning rewards on those purchases can save the cost-conscious consumer even more money.

This card has no annual fee and even offers a $10 bonus once you’re qualified. They also offer six-month financing for those who spend $149 or more and 12-month financing for $599 or higher purchases. These are zero-interest offers if paid off within that time, and the card has more extended offers.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Zina Kumok is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance. She writes a blog about paying off her student loans in three years at Debt Free After Three. A trained journalist, she's covered everything from murder trials to the Final Four. Learn more about Zina Kumok

EDITORIAL NOTE

Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

Credit Cards Explained may earn affiliate commissions from our partners on this page. These commissions do not affect how we select, rate, or review products. To find out more, read our complete terms of use.

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Cards In This Article

Discover it® - Cashback Match™

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card

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EDITORIAL NOTE

Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author's alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.

Credit Cards Explained may earn affiliate commissions from our partners on this page. These commissions do not affect how we select, rate, or review products. To find out more, read our complete terms of use.